Performance buying guide

With so much emphasis on safety, fuel economy and emissions these days, you might think this is a bad time for performance cars — but nothing could be further from the truth. Clean, efficient engines extract more power from each drop of fuel while modern safety gear is designed to ensure that cars go where they are pointed. Today's performance cars are quicker and sharper than ever, and few suffer from the mechanical frailty that plagued past generations of hot-rod rides. In this 2017 list you'll find both performance vehicles (including performance-oriented daily drivers and high-powered versions of mainstream cars) as well as luxury sports cars that coddle as well as thrill.

With so much emphasis on safety, fuel economy and emissions these days, you might think this is a bad time for performance cars — but nothing could be further from the truth. Clean, efficient engines extract more power from each drop of fuel while modern safety gear is designed to ensure that cars go where they are pointed. Today's performance cars are quicker and sharper than ever, and few suffer from the mechanical frailty that plagued past generations of hot-rod rides. In this 2017 list you'll find both performance vehicles (including performance-oriented daily drivers and high-powered versions of mainstream cars) as well as luxury sports cars that coddle as well as thrill.

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Performance

Velvet Velvet Black Cover Black Hat Cover Hat For a car to earn entry-level performance status, it needs to be significantly faster or more athletic than others of its ilk. But that's not all. It also needs to have a certain something that makes it feel special, whether you're at a track day or just running to the store.

High Performance

We're talking heavy artillery here. Crazy horsepower numbers. Supercarlike sprints to 60 mph. Track-ready handling and braking. These models aren't exclusive enough to be considered exotics, but their capabilities are comparable in many cases.

Exotic Performance

These are the ones on the posters. Rarely seen in the wild, they drive like race cars and tend to look like them, too. You'll find epic V10 and V12 engines here, of course, along with turbo V8s and some particularly powerful sixes. Otherworldly performance is par for the course.

Exotic Performance

popular models in exotic performance:

performance & sports car videos

2019 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 First Drive

Edmunds Senior Writer Carlos Lago reviews the 2019 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1. With 755 horsepower, 715 pound-feet of torque, and a 212 mph top speed, the ZR1 delivers supercar performance. But is its radically powerful V8 too much to handle? Watch as we drive this mega-powerful Corvette around the track at Road Atlanta to find out.

With 755 horsepower the 2019 Chevrolet Corvette zr1 is the most powerful Corvette ever it's also the most technologically advanced behind me are the rolling s's at Road Atlanta and we're here to see if we can reach to the supercar levels of performance afforded by this thing's massive power big tires and the tall wing on the back after that we'll take to the streets to see if a car this powerful can behave itself in public this is a monster of a car I've had some brief track opportunities moving this morning to get used to the pace of this machine which is phenomenal we're gonna warm up as we get out to the road Atlanta and sort of build up to the pace that this car can operate at now initially when you hop in this car you have this shrine to the engine right above you you see the line of the hood it kind of dominates the center of the view you can see over it it doesn't affect visibility but it's immediately obvious and that kind of speaks to what makes this car special it's a monster of an engine listen to that [Music] that is tremendous tremendous acceleration and incredible power but what I finding so far my brief time here at the Atlanta is that everything else in the car is rut has risen to match hurt me while I lay into it on the back straight look you know 150 mile-an-hour indicated we're going to ease up a little bit on it because I need to focus on talking rather than driving but like I was saying the attributes of the rest of the car the steering the braking capability the grip every system of this car is riding to the same level of the power and I think that's what makes it really impressive initially this is undoubtedly a mega mega fast car but it's one that doesn't terrify you with its performance potential there's a level of electronic sophistication that is unparalleled at this price point but it's hard not to get you know totally slipped away by the power of this engine so that's why I keep coming back to it this car has an electronically controlled limited slip differential it has shocks filled with magnetically responsive fluid that can react faster to inputs and everything this car has a super sophisticated stability control system that teaches you how to drive it quick but also makes you go faster we haven't even gotten into exploring it yet because the limits of this car are so high that frankly it takes a while to grow into it but [Music] I think what's impressive about this car is despite how fast it is it is approachable you can buy this car to track dates with it and grow with it as a driver and as an owner I think that's a really special [Music] because you will never be more talented than this car is fast ever unless you are a racing driver casually grazing under 50 miles an hour on this straight okay I'm just going to enjoy driving this now [Music] [Applause] [Music] this particular Corvette zr1 comes with the cars track performance package a lot of those changes happen underneath the sheet metal but one of the big differences that is immediately obvious is this giant carbon fiber wing now the way this thing is mounted is actually into the structure of the vehicle and it makes you know loading the rear hatch a bit more difficult but we're assuming that's okay if you're looking for the track performance this thing delivers also giving you that performance are these Michelin Pilot Sport cup tires which are basically track oriented tires that you can drive on the street but as we wake our way to the front of the thing what really matters is what's under the hood that's right there's actually a hole in the hood of this thing and that's because this engine is so tall it's tall because it has a larger supercharger and a bunch of added cooling on it to help it you know keep at the right temperature the supercharger is way larger than the one on the zo six and it has a more cooling capacity and the downside is it's taller so it pops literally through the hood the cool thing is from the top you can actually see this shake when you're looking at it from you know a camera from the top of the vehicle this all makes for 755 horsepower making this the most powerful Corvette ever now what's important about that is this not just the power but likewise everything in the car has to be built to accommodate and be able to drive to the level of speed this thing can develop that's why you had the massive cooling so I had the aerodynamics and that's why I had the electronic sophistication inside [Applause] we had a lot of time to take this car on the track yesterday and I've had the night to think about things Matt today two crews on the road and see how this extreme performance machine deals with the sort of more civil minded stuff of street driving the track impressions remain this thing is unquestionably one of the most capable cars you can get from a dealer these days a lot of that's besides the point now because we're on the street we have speed limits they have the ever-present threat of law enforcement around every corner so the question is what does this car feel like in public when you slow this car down it feels like a more powerful Corvette you don't get much tram lining from these big wheels though we as the front end doesn't want to follow grooves in the pavement it is louder it is a little firmer but it's certainly livable on a day to day basis that's surprising for a vehicle of this capability normally these track oriented cars are so hardcore that you wouldn't want to drive them to the racetrack but let's face it you spend more time driving to the track than you do on the track and the fact that this thing works well in both disciplines is really impressive I can also dial everything back and cruise and not feel like I'm getting punished for driving a hardcore track machine that's a that's a really nice accomplishment that's something that you won't find in cars that are this fast and costs maybe double this much the engine in this car dominates the entire experience you can't miss the engine and the whole friend this car is sort of a shrine to it the way it pops out of the hood the way it's covered with coolers around the sides it is the experience of this car and that does make driving this thing special and also the fact that it doesn't look half bad either in fact I think it has some of the coolest looking wheels currently available on a new car this car as we mentioned this car has the track package the track package on this car gives you what they call competition bucket seats which are a little wide for my tastes but I'm you know not the widest person in the world this automatic transmission works well I mean there's so much torque again out of this engine that it can be very smooth and almost imperceptible its clunky on occasion I think I'd might opt for the manual although Chevy tells me about 80% of its customers will go for the automatic I don't think they're gonna be disappointed and that's gonna be the faster transmission drag strip on the street - and on the racetrack man it was a little bit more satisfying to my taste though we've talked about the exhaust I have it set in the track setting let's quiet it down a little bit so you can hear the difference now I've set that separately from everything else so let's put it stealth what happened to the engine sound that's pretty that's pretty amazing man stealth is really stealth and then go back to track Wow actually a really big difference that's that's pretty great the Corvette has always been a strong value proposition and nowhere is that more evident than this zr1 giving you a nearly unbeatable track performance per dollar now the nice thing is on the road this doesn't feel like a ragged edge track machine either you could genuinely drive it every day the compromises are few and that's what makes this car so special if you like what you see keep it tuned right here and be sure to visit Edmunds.com [Music]

performance & sports car buying info

Size/Market Segment

Price

Engines/Output

Performance Numbers

Drivetrain

Ride Quality

Operating Costs

Size/Market Segment

Performance cars include more affordable "hot hatches," old-school muscle cars and high-powered variations of luxury cars. These are the cars that you can more realistically drive every day. Luxury sports cars typically have only two seats, or backseats that are barely big enough to hold a briefcase. This also includes exotic entries from companies like Aston Martin and Ferrari.

Price

These cars can range from just over $20,000 to somewhere around $1 million. Yet there are plenty of thrills to be had throughout that enormous span.

Engines/Output

Don't get too hung up on counting cylinders. A turbocharged V6 can be quicker than a naturally aspirated V8 while burning less fuel. Pay more attention to horsepower figures as well as torque, which in layman's terms is essentially the force that thrusts you into your seat. One car could have less horsepower than another, but because it has more torque, it could end up being the more thrilling performance machine.

Performance Numbers

When searching for a performance car, it's important to keep an eye open for certain performance numbers that can be used to compare one vehicle to another. The most common of these is the sprint from zero to 60 mph. Generally, anything under 7 seconds would be considered quick, while anything under 5 seconds is enough to make you stand up, take notice and then later brag to your friends. Increasingly, the world's exotic cars deliver 0-60 times in the low 3s and will on occasion dip below that. Also keep an eye out for 60-0 braking numbers (cars with performance summer tires should take less than 110 feet) as well as the slalom and skid pad handling tests. For skid pad and slalom tests, the higher the numbers, the better.

Drivetrain

Drivetrain indicates whether a car is front-, rear- or all-wheel drive. Front-wheel-drive performance cars are essentially limited to cheaper "hot hatch" models. They are easy to drive as a result of front-wheel drive, but usually don't have the same handling balance and are prone to both understeer ("pushing" in NASCAR parlance) and torque steer (the feeling of the steering wheel sawing about as the engine's power overwhelms the front wheels). Rear-wheel drive is the tried-and-true formula that many car enthusiasts prefer, as it encourages a greater degree of driver skill and involvement, while also allowing for the sort of tail-out, tire-smoking histrionics you see in car commercials. All-wheel drive is becoming increasingly popular because it allows for a greater amount of power to be sent to the wheels without a loss of traction. All-wheel drive's added grip also aids in handling. In general, you'll probably go quicker with AWD, but will have more fun with RWD.

Ride Quality

In order to improve a car's handling, automakers will typically firm up the suspension and add bigger wheels shod in low-profile tires. This, with rare exception, will result in a less comfortable ride than the one you will experience in a non-performance car. Make sure to hit a few bumps around town and on the highway before signing up for several years in one of these thrill machines.

Operating Costs

Operating costs are bound to be pricier with performance and sports cars. They are likely to have lower fuel economy and require premium gas. Tires are likely to be more expensive as well, and if you're driving the car to its high-speed capabilities, you'll be going through them more quickly than normal as well. Maintenance on high-performance cars, especially those from luxury manufacturers, is almost always pricier than for their more subdued counterparts. Parts are often lower in volume, higher in complexity and just plain more expensive. Make sure to consult Edmunds' True Cost to Own (TCO) data.

about performance & sports cars

The pursuit of automotive performance has become something like an arms race, with makers of performance, high-performance and exotic sports cars pushing the boundaries of what's possible. We like to imagine that the first person to drive an automobile thought, "This is great, but can it go faster?" It turns out cars can go very fast indeed.

The performance vehicle segment is possibly the most diverse on the market. There are tons of powertrain combinations, from the mechanical precision of the rear-engine, rear-wheel-drive Porsche 911 to the high-tech wizardry of a modern McLaren. And we can't forget the classic simplicity of a V8 up front paired with rear-wheel drive, as perfected by the American trinity of pony cars: the Chevrolet Camaro, Dodge Challenger and Ford Mustang.

For many people, priority No. 1 with a sports car is outright horsepower and speed, which is why exotic cars such as the Koenigsegg Regera and Bugatti Chiron each make a staggering 1,479 horsepower (or a nice, even 1,500 PS for Europeans). Of course, for a more attainable MSRP, Dodge will hand you the keys to an 808-hp Challenger SRT Demon, or a 707-hp Challenger SRT Hellcat if you're feeling shy. Even compact cars have gotten in on the power game, with the Ford Focus RS packing 350 hp and Honda cramming 306 hp into the front-wheel-drive Civic Type R.

Approaches to making power differ, too. Dodge relies on a supercharger for the Demon, and any number of cars use turbocharging to make extra power. And though it's impossible to ignore the power that forced induction adds, sports car enthusiasts have long argued over whether it's the best approach. Many purists prefer the character of naturally aspirated engines, which you'll find in sizes ranging from Dodge's 6.4-liter Hemi V8 and Chevrolet's 6.2-liter V8 to the 2.0-liter four-cylinder in the Mazda MX-5 Miata. (We leave aside the brutish 8.0-liter V10 of the Dodge Viper, which is no longer in production.) But today's turbocharged engines are pretty amazing in their own right with their flat torque curves and impressive fuel economy. There's no point trying to argue which is best; it just comes down to what you want.

For some drivers, power takes a back seat to handling. To this end, sports car makers have worked to perfect their cars' balance, incorporating high-tech materials and even moving the engine around. Exotic manufacturers such as Ferrari, Lamborghini and McLaren all offer mid-engine cars that make liberal use of carbon fiber in their construction. Porsche builds the mid-engine convertible 718 Boxster and hardtop 718 Cayman. All-wheel-drive systems also help keep performance vehicles planted through turns, which is why every Subaru WRX STI ever made has used all-wheel drive and why BMW has switched to AWD for the newest M5.

If you need to take practical concerns into account, a roadster or sports car might be too cramped for comfort. No matter how much you want to be James Bond, you can't shuttle the kids around in an Aston Martin coupe. Slinky sport sedans such as the Audi RS 7, Mercedes-Benz AMG CLS 63 S and Porsche Panamera offer relatively generous back seats, while high-performance SUVs such as the Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk, Mercedes-Benz AMG GLE 63 S and Porsche Cayenne Turbo S will get five people and all their belongings from zero to 60 mph in times that used to be the sole domain of supercars.

In the end, performance comes down to that special feeling you get when you're behind the wheel. It's fun to compare spec sheets, but unless you're a race car driver who can detect incremental differences at the limit, the most important thing is the visceral excitement that a sports car offers. As far as we're concerned, nothing else compares. If you'd like to learn more about our favorite performance cars, be sure to check out our full rating and review of each model and browse our Editors' Picks to find out which sports cars we think are the absolute best of the best.

Why Edmunds Recommends the 2017 Ford Focus RS: The Focus ST has long been one of our favorite hot hatches, but it's been surpassed by the even hotter Focus RS. The Focus RS' 2.3-liter turbo-four turns out 350 horsepower and drives all four wheels instead of just the front pair. The RS boasts adjustable dampers, bigger brakes and super-grippy tires. And it's a Focus, which means it's still practical — certainly far more than a sporty coupe. Ridiculously fast, remarkably sticky and respectably easy to live with, the Ford Focus RS may well be the ultimate hot hatchback.

Why Edmunds Recommends the 2017 Ford Mustang GT: The Ford Mustang has been part of the American motoring scene for well over 50 years, and the 2017 version is every bit as exciting as the original. We've come to expect tire-smoking power and classic styling from the Mustang, and now thanks to a recent redesign, we can add a top-notch interior and excellent handling to that list. Both V6 and turbocharged four-cylinder engines provide strong acceleration, but in our opinion, the 5.0-liter V8 in the Mustang GT is the best performance choice and the one best in keeping with the Mustang's character.

Why Edmunds Recommends the 2017 Subaru WRX: Fast cars and family cars would seem to be at opposite ends of the spectrum, but they come full circle and meet up in the 2017 Subaru WRX. With a 268-hp turbocharged four-cylinder engine driving all four wheels and a sharply tuned suspension delivering lightning-quick responses, the WRX delivers serious performance along with a roomy four-door body and a spacious trunk. There are some compromises: The ride is hard and loud, and the higher-performance version, the 305-hp STI, is so stiffly sprung that we gave it a B rating. Still, we expect cars on this list to emphasize performance, and the WRX delivers by accelerating quickly and keeping up a rapid pace in the curves.

Why Edmunds Recommends the 2017 Volkswagen Golf R: Most enthusiasts are familiar with the Volkswagen Golf GTI, the car that introduced the hot-hatch concept to America, but fewer know its more powerful sibling, the Golf R. This is the GTI turned up another notch thanks to a 292-hp 2.0-liter engine, standard all-wheel drive and DCC adaptive dampers (optional, though base model Golf Rs without them are nearly impossible to find). Like the GTI, the Golf R offers both a traditional manual transmission as well as a DSG dual-clutch gearbox, the latter offering the convenience of an automatic with no real performance downsides. The steering feel leaves a bit to be desired, but aside from that it's hard to fault the Volkswagen Golf R, which blends tire-shredding performance with a decidedly upscale demeanor.

Why Edmunds Recommends the 2017 Audi RS 7: We love the smooth styling of Audi's A7 and the power and performance of the S7, but the RS 7 turns things up to a completely ludicrous level. With 560 hp — 110 more than the S7 — delivered to all four wheels, the RS 7 is blindingly quick and incredibly agile. And yet the ride is much smoother and more comfortable than we've any right to expect from such an accomplished performer. And practicality? With a roomy four-door cabin and a big hatchback cargo area, the RS 7 is still practical, though tight backseat headroom is a drawback. In our opinion, the RS 7 is a bargain-priced Porsche Panamera Turbo — and it's better-looking to boot.

Why Edmunds Recommends the 2017 BMW M4: The M4 is the two-door version of the BMW M3, and if you've read our reviews of that iconic sport sedan, you know we can pay the M4 no higher compliment. The M4 shares its smooth-spinning 3.0-liter turbo-six (425 hp, rising to 444 hp with a new-for-2017 Competition package), outstanding chassis and high-luxe interior. The M4 grips the road like Velcro, yet its ride is surprisingly compliant. Another surprise is the back seat, which is commendably roomy for a two-door car. Whether you're ripping up the track or slogging through your daily commute, the BMW M4 is the ultimate enthusiast's coupe.

Why Edmunds Recommends the 2017 Mercedes-Benz AMG C 63: BMW's M3 is a tough act to follow, but the Mercedes-Benz C 63 AMG has largely caught up. Straight-line acceleration has never been a problem for the AMG C-Class; the C 63 offers 469 hp and the C 63 S provides 503 hp, and both have a howling exhaust note that blows away the Bimmer. Though older AMG C's fell behind in the handling department, today's C 63 has the skills to keep up with the M3, and the level of luxury and sophistication it delivers is simply unmatched among its competitors. The C 63 AMG delivers sport and luxury in equal measures.

Why Edmunds Recommends the 2017 Chevrolet Corvette: There is simply no better performance bargain on the market than the Chevrolet Corvette. The base model Stingray is ridiculously fast and incredibly capable. You would have to spend twice as much to buy a German sport coupe that can match its performance. The supercharged Z06 delivers world-beating performance and is just as much of a bargain when compared to exotic hypercars, many of which it can handily dispatch on the track. Previous Corvettes belied their price with cheap interiors, but the latest C7 version feels properly luxurious, offering high-tech options such as adjustable dampers and a built-in data logger. The Corvette nameplate may have some baggage, but if you're shopping for a serious performance car, it's a must-drive.

Why Edmunds Recommends the 2017 Porsche 718 Cayman: We didn't think it would be possible to improve on the Cayman and its drop-top sibling, the Boxster, but Porsche has proved us wrong with the new-for-2017 version. Though we miss the wail of the old Cayman's flat-sixes — they've been replaced by more powerful and efficient turbo-fours — our experience with the new car has impressed us. The Cayman's mid-engine layout is superior to the 911's rear-engine setup, and while it's hard to find fault with the way the 911 goes down the road, we'd argue that the Cayman is every bit as satisfying, if not more so. Porsche offers a long list of options that can drive the price of a Cayman way, way up, but bear in mind that you need not specify custom-tinted leather or painted brake calipers to enjoy the driving experience.

Why Edmunds Recommends the 2017 Porsche 911: Forgive us for stating the obvious, but the 911 is both a classic and a legend — and with very good reason. Fifty-plus years of development and refinement have resulted in a car that is as luxurious as it is thrilling. Few cars engage their drivers the way the 911 does. The driving experience is visceral and nearly flawless, giving the driver an unparalleled sense of control — all the more remarkable when you consider that its engine is hung out behind the rear axle. The 911 rides firm and the options can get ridiculously expensive, but the 911 is one of the finest performance cars on the market, something you'll feel every time you get behind the wheel.

Why Edmunds Recommends the 2017 Jaguar F-Type: The best sports cars seem to form a deep emotional bond with their drivers, and few cars do that as well as the Jaguar F-Type. There are so many things we like about the F-Type, chief among them the stunning styling (which looks great in both coupe and convertible form), the elegant interior, and the soulful wail from its powerful supercharged V6 and V8 engines. While we love the big V8s, even the base model is huge fun.